voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

On the Train

Three days after the Voidtreckers return to the void after their adventures on the biosphere world, they are awoken by a familiar announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen of the month of Jelly. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while will also be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. The fog seems thicker than usual and as they step out onto the platform they will find it is cold, very cold. Icy fog sticks to their clothing, makes it hard to see very far; the atmosphere is dark and gloomy.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alexis Rhodes, Elfnein, Itsuki Myoudouin, Ken Ichijouji, MT, Neku Sakuraba, Nike Lemercier, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Rainbow Dash, Rei Saotome, Taichi Yagami, Tsubomi Hanasaki, Yuri Tsukikage and Zechs Merquise all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam, billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large with sixteen figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, tracks disappear into the mist. Then there is a roaring sound and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out step a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

The Train

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including several crates of avocados, the ingredient of the month of Jelly, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers braving the freezing fog, and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh yes, coughing up blood is totally normal. Devero is not reassured by this, Yoite! He frowns. "This is all caused by your-- your qi technique, isn't it?" he asks. "--What did you call it? Kira?"

In his eyes, if it was normal for him, it was probably fine, and he meant that to be reassuring.

"Yes, it's the Kira technique." Yoite agreed with a small nod. "That's...what happens when you use it. It damages me."

"I remember you telling me that," he says. He has an intense urge to reach out and take Yoite's hands in his, but he resists it, saying only, "I hope they don't hurt, at least...?"

Yoite considered that and shook his head. "Not much. I can't really feel it." That was a saving grace considering how much of his body had turned black already.

"It's..." He shook his head after a moment, deciding to spare Devero the details. "Anyway. I won't die here. The train said so."

"...At least there's that," Devero says softly, after a moment. "Is there nothing anyone here can do for you? One of the magical healers, or something...?"

"I don't know. I don't really think so. I saw a doctor after I got seriously injured the mission before last." Yoite admitted. "He didn't recommend anything aside from eating a little more."

Devero has to look away for a moment as he murmurs, "Well, someone may yet board who can." For Yoite's sake, he hopes so.

Then he looks back and, rocking on his feet a little, holds up a paper-wrapped bundle. "I, uh. Got you something."

Yoite nodded a little bit, it was maybe possible with everyone, but he wasn't going to hold his breath. He'd done this to himself after all, he had to suffer the consequences.

"You did?" Yoite asked, blinking a little bit, bewildered.

"Yes." He unwraps the package, revealing two electronic cartridges like the ones he'd been looking at in the library on his last platform. He sticks one under his arm, and offers the other out to Yoite.

His eyes widened a little bit in surprise. He wasn't sure he knew how to use the cartridge but it looked like math.

"I like math." He confirmed with a small smile.

"I remember." He expands the cartridge deftly into tablet configuration and offers it to Yoite.

Blazoned across the top of the screen are the words Standardization Courses for Citizenship Applicants: Remedial Math; underneath are a series of big icons, each chapter of the the book arranged in order with titles like 'Why Math Literacy is Essential', 'Building Blocks of Mathematics', and 'Math in the Real World'.

"I'll have to show you how to use it," he says, "and you'll have to bring it to me to charge every once in a while, but that should have everything you need to learn more about math."

Yoite couldn't help but offer Devero a smile in exchange. "I...thank you." He said honestly, looking a bit flustered as though he didn't get many things and wasn't sure how to handle it.

"I promise I'll do all the problems."

"You do as many as you want to do," he makes sure to tell him. "There's no obligation, okay?"

He collapses the tablet back into a cartridge and offers it to Yoite. "I have something else," he says, "though this one is more for anyone who wants to use it." Assuming Yoite takes the first book from him, Devero takes the other one out from under his arm.

The title of this one, once Devero has it expanded into tablet form, is Accessibility Aids for Everyone!: Teaching Yourself Global Sign.

"Is that for doing the hand gestures you were doing?" Yoite asked him, tilting his head curiously.

"Yes! I thought I might start teaching some lessons, and I'll leave this in the library as well when I'm not using it, for you or anyone else who wants to study from it."

"I'll take a look at it." Yoite promised with a bit of a smile. He was interested in the sign language Devero was doing, not that he was sure it would help, he'd have to try it.

It's utility will end up being directly proportionate to the number of people who make the effort to learn it, but. Devero's going to do what he can on that aspect.

"Sounds good," Devero says. He reaches out and claps Yoite on the shoulder (gently). "Come find me when things have quieted down some and I'll show you how to use the books like these, all right?"

Yoite wasn't easily startled when he was looking at the person and so the clap on the shoulder didn't seem to surprise him too much.

"Okay. I'll come visit you soon so I can learn." He promised.

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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